Accelerator pedal actuating device



March 25,, Wm umssaw 2,235,852

ACCELERATOR PEDAL AGTUATING DEVICE Filed April 26, 1932 INVENT OR.

Patented M9 5' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ACCELERATOR. PEDAL ACTUATING nsvron George 11. Rubissow, New York, N. Y. Application April 29, 1939, Serial No. 270,171

11 Claims. (01. 14-513) application is a continuation in part of my prior copending application Serial #160,425, flied August 23, 1937, for Throttle actuating device.

5 The existing accelerator devices actuated by means of footwear (or foot) are all very defective because they require a constant pressure from the footwear of the operator, which pressure may only be maintained if constant will-power lll is used and is maintained in the muscles and nerves of the leg and/or the feet of the operator. Furthermore, in existing accelerator pedal devices, the driver must always lift his toes and sometimes the entire foot in order to put the W sole oi his shoe on the pedal. No doubt this is not only extremely tiring but also very damaging to the health of the operator, especially if the operator is a professional driver 6r has to drive several hours at a time.

an ll/l'any inventors have tried to eliminate the said inconveniences of the existing throttle and/ or accelerator arrangements and by different means, in particular as described for instance in the U. H. A. patents, Nos;

hrit'mh Patent Nos: I

tit 13,339 258,042 443,015

and in the French Patent Nos:

The present invention consists in a device which may be adapted and installed in a few minutes to any existing type of throttle. and

5 when so installed, the said device offers the following advantages:

The driver, instead of keeping his foot (or footwear) in a permanently raised position, may rest his foot on the floor without any tension m of intentional force to be provided in his muscles and/or in his nerves to maintain the foot in its raised operating position. That means that the operator who uses the present invention will use his foot exactly in the same manner as if he were s sitting in the chair of a theater, when his feet are just resting on the floor without any willaction and without any special forc to be provided in the muscles and nerves or with only a very slight pressure to be used to compensate for the reaction of the accelerator when the resilient means which causes this reaction is too strong.

Furthermore, the driver, instead of pressing the footwear against the throttle (as the operators do at the present time with the existing throttles), will only be obliged to move his footwear to and fro (or sideways or both) contacting during this movement the operating part of the device, subject of this invention, and will operate, by means of this displacement of his footwear (resting or sliding on the floor), the throttle to 15 which the member is connected by suitable means. 1

The device, subject of this. invention, consists of a rigid member in the form of a lever, made of any suitable material, which lever contains an articulating axis by means of which it is attached to the floor, and aroundwhich axis, it may be rotated.

when the lever is moved by the contacting footwear from one position to another, the suitable part of this lever, to which rigid (or flexible) connection is affixed by its one end, displaces simultaneously with its pivotal rotation the accelerator pedal (or throttle) to which the said connection is also attached by its other end.

This invention, therefore, removes the pressure and the tension generally used by the operator (for instance, in automobiles, buses, trucks, trolleys, locomotives, boats, airplanes, pumps, etc.,

any kind of industrial engine, etc.) by displacing the footwear in a state of rest on the floor without any tension and fatigue.

This displacing of the footwear and the keeping of the footwear in any operating position as long as desired is without any fatigue or tension to the operator, and the operator may even move his footwear, continuing to maintain the contact with the said device; in fact, the contact may be kept by contacting the footwear with the lever only in one part of it, while the footwear, during the time of contacting (or operating) may itself be moved to the side or tilted slightly to one side or another, without altering the accelerator efliciency.

The other very important subject of this invention is the friction between the footwear and the floor and the choice of this friction in relationto the total reaction of the throttle (including the lever-arrangement (or member) which friction must be preferably so chosen that the footwear will be kept in a resting state by itself due to the friction phenomena, and this in any required operating position. This may be easily arranged according to another aspect of this invention, whereby the desirable choice of the relationship of the length of the two parts of the lever is mad in advance as follows: one part of the lever equal to the distancebetween the axis of rotation of the member and the point of attachment of the connecting means; and of the second part of the lever equal to the distance between the said axis of rotation and the average point of contacting the said member with the footwear. This choice of the said relationship of the length of the lever parts is one of the most important subjects of this invention because it establishes the possibility of choosing them so that the footwear may be kept in its resting state in any operating position without using any intentional pressure or muscle force or the like.

Another and one of the main aspects of this invention consists in providing the said lever with roller elements placed in appropriate parts of it, which roller should make possible free movement with as little friction as possible. This is especially important because the lever being pulled in one direction forms a moment of force so that the other end of the lever will be pushed down and if one or more rollers are arranged in this part of the lever, there will be no jamming, and free movement will be insured.

The above and further objects and novel features will more fully appear from the following detailed description when the same is read in connection with the accompanying drawing. It is to be expressly understood, however, that the drawing is for purposes of illustration only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention.

In the drawing, wherein like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 represents schematically a crosssectional view of the device.

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view following the axis l--l of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view of Figure 2 following the axis 2-2.

Figure 5 is a schematical cross-sectional view of another device.

Figure 6 is a plan view of Figure 5.

Figures '7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of Figure 5 following the axis 5-5 and Figure 6 following the axis 66.

Figure 9 is a broken-out cross-sectional view of the axis and bearings.

On Figure 1, P represents the accelerator pedal. This pedal is attached by fixation means Hi to a connection C, the other end of which connection is attached to a fixation means I l which fixation means II is rigidly attached to the lever L, the

said lever L being articulated around an axis 12 rigidly ailixed to the flooring F.

It should be remarked that the connection C can be a rigid one or a flexible one or a chain belt, wire, etc. Preferably it should be attached so to the flxations Ill and II that it could easily pivot.

The lever L, by way of example, as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, is made from a thin metal or another material, the edges of which are bent in order to reinforce the bending moment. The edge It may be shorter; the edge IS in its front part may be higher in order to ofleran abutment for contacting the shoe, when operated.

The lever L is aflixed to the flooring preferably through the intermediary of a washer l4 having a spherical or another surface diminishing the friction. A similar washer could be placed on the top of the lever surface. A nut l3 could maintain the necessary tightening of the washers. It is clear that when the lever L will be moved forward by the footwear S, the same may occupy the position of S1, Figure 2, and in this case, the connection C will force the pedal P downward; which will effect the pressure of the right end of the lever against the flooring. This pressure may be very dangerous because it can create a jamming or blocking of the lever against the flooring. The provision in such a place of one or more rollers l'l mounted on axis iii, if necessary assisted by washers l8 prevents the friction. The washers and the roller could be retained in their position by a nut like member 20.

On Figure 2 rollers i1 and "a are provided. This also prevents the lateral balancing of the lever. It is important to use the rollers especially in case axis I2 is made loose or is not strong enough to receive the efforts of bending.

In case the axis of rotation is provided on the left end of the lever, as shown in Figure 5, connection C should be affixed somewhere on the appropriate part of the lever. Such lever, when pushed by the shoe S as shown in Figure 6, will then, instead of pressing the right end on the flooring, lift it from the flooring F. To prevent the bending, one or more rollers could be arranged in a suitable part of the lever and, by way of example as shown in Figures 5 and 6, such roller 28 is mounted on its axis 29 and a guide means 26 is afllxed rigidly to the flooring by its supports 21 so that the roller 28 is constantly urged against the lower surface of the guide means 26. This roller eliminates the friction and therefore prevents jamming, If necessary, another roller 22 may be mounted on the right end of the lever on an axis 23 and assisted by washer 24. The said guide means 28, instead of being mounted as it is shown in Figures 5 and 6, may be mounted so that it is for use of the roller 22. One of such arrangements is enough for good actuating of the device. However, several rollers may be used, if desired.

The lever, as shown in Figures 5, 6, '7, and 8 is made from sheet material with edges 30 and 3| turned up. The front edge 30 may be made a little higher in its operating part and curved to be more suitable as an abutment for the shoe. The said abutment may be provided with a cushion 33 made from soft or semi-soft material, such as rubber, cloth, leather, etc., to make a more agreeable contact with the shoe.

If the reaction of the pedal is too strong, a resilient means 32, a spring, rubber strip or the like, may be provided as shown in Figure 6 to diminish the reaction of the pedal.

One of the important features of this device is the axis of rotation of the lever. If such axis is made sufficiently strong as shown in Figure 9 and if a strong bearing is used, then the lever, even if urged by the pedal in'one or another direction, will amortize such bending forces in the said bearing, and the rollers could be eliminated. Instead of one bearing, two bearings 36, as shown in Figure 9, may be used. The axis 34 may be provided with special washer 31 and the whole may be placed in 'a tube 35 which forms a part of the lever. Such arrangement is more expensive, but it may also worlr without rollers.

it may be remarked that the rollers may be arranged in any suitable place and may be assisted by guide means put on the flooring between the rollers and the flooring to assist their movements.

The lever may be made from wood, any plastic material, Bakelite, vulcanized hard rubber, etc. and may be of any suitable form, hollow or solid, may be straight in form or curved. it may also be composed of more than one piece. attached one to another by linlt connection, provided with looking devices so that the lever may be, before use, adapted to the surface in which it is to be displaced. Instead of one'hole for the axis, several holes may be provided so that the choice of hole will give the necessary relationship of the lengths of the lever parts, such relationship to be adapted to the weight of the foot and footwear of the driver. Instead of one hole, a straight out out along the lever may be provided and any point of this cut out may beused for fixation of the axis thereon, which offers an unlimited choice of lever parts.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:

l. A device to be used in combination with the accelerator pedal of a vehicle comprising a lever mounted on an axis of rotation, said axis being rigidly affixed in respect to the flooring, said lever connected by a flexible connection to the said pedal, one part of the said lever being provided with at least one roller, whereby when said lever is moved to and fro it pivots around the said axis of rotation and the said accelerator pedal is actuated.

2. A. device to be used in combination with the accelerator pedal of a vehicle comprising a lever mounted on an axis of rotation, said axis being rigidly affixed in respect to the flooring, said lever connected by a rigid connection-attached to the said pedal and to the said lever by fixation means around which fixation means the said rigid connection could pivot, one part of the said lever being provided with at least one roller, whereby when said lever is moved to and fro it pivots around the said axis of rotation and the said accelerator pedal is actuated.

3. A carburetor control device comprising a rigid lever adapted to be plvotally connected through the intermediary of a connecting member to the accelerator pedal and to a part of one end of the said lever, said lever being mounted on an axis of rotation rigidly afllxed in respect to the flooring of the vehicle, said axis of rotation being placed between the said one end of the said lever and the other extreme end of the said lever, a part of the end of the said lever between the said axis of rotation and the said other end of said lever bein provided with at least one roller adapted to roll on the said flooring when the said lever is pivoted to and fro by the foot of the driver, whereby the said accelerator pedal is actuated.

4. A foot carburetor control device comprising a rigid lever adapted to be pivotally connected by means of a connecting member to the accelerator pedal and to the said lever, said lever being mounted on an axis of rotation rigidly amxed in. respect to the flooring of the vehicle, said axis of rotation being placed on one part of one end of the said lever, said connecting member being attached (pivotally) to the said lever at a part between the said axis of rotation and the other extreme end, the said other extreme end of the said lever being provided with at least one roller adapted to roll on the same flooring where the said lever is moved to and fro by the foot of the driver, whereby the said accelerator pedal is actuated.

5. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the lever is made from a sheet of metal provided at least in one part of its edges with a raised abutment.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the said lever is provided with a raised abutment covered with soft cushion to be contacted by the foot of the driver during the operation.

7. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation is provided with one bearing rigidly aflixed by its inner part to the said axis of rotation and byits outer part to the said lever.

8. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the axis of rotation is sufficiently high and is provided with at least two bearings placed at a distance from each other, the outer part of the said bearings being rigidly afiixed to the said lever and the inner parts of the said bearings be ing rigidly affixed to the said axis of rotation.

9. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the said axis of rotation is mounted substantially loosely in the said lever, friction diminishing means provided between the lever surface around the said axis of rotation and the flooring of the vehicle.

10. A device as set forth in claim 1, wherein P the said lever is assisted by resilient means, whereby when the said device is operated the reaction force of the accelerator system is diminished.

11. A device as set forth in claim 3, wherein the said lever is made from a stamped sheet of,

metal.

GEORGE A. RUBISSOW. 

